Lord Stanley Loves to Surf

There is beauty and brilliance in this ending no matter what team you root for.

There is, first, the traditional handshake that shows the respect and admiration shared by these two teams, some would say the greatest tradition in all of sports...fitting as its done in celebration of the greatest trophy in all of sports...

Then Scott Niedermeyer lifting the Conn Smythe trophy, a surprising choice perhaps but no less deserving of the honor, his salt and pepper beard covering up the many wounds of battle...

The Stanley Cup being carried out by its keepers, white gloves protecting it for these last few seconds before all bets are off, the lights of the arena and the flashbulbs of the crowd bouncing off its silver surface...

But the image I will take away with me is the picture of Teemu Selanne, face bathed in tears, lifting the Cup for the very first time and then being so overcome by emotion that he is unable to speak. It is for him, like so many others in recent years, the culmination of a quest that has taken far too long. His joy and emotion are written on his tear-stained face, speaking louder than any words he could say. Congrats, Teemu - the prize is finally yours and well-deserved, to be sure.

This was, to put it simply, the Ducks' Cup to win. The Senators were arguably the best team in the playoffs through the first three rounds...but this Anaheim team would take over from there, taking the Sens off their game and dominating to the very end. Anyone who watched this series knows that there was no other finale possible, no other way the playoffs could conclude.

And so they do conclude.

I really have nothing more to say other than to congratulate the Ducks and their fans on their new title as the Stanley Cup Champions. Enjoy it, revel in it, capture it in your hearts and minds - but most of all remember what it took to get there.

Because no victory is sweeter than the one that takes a piece of your soul to achieve. Just something to keep in mind, my fellow Washingtonians...


So on that (extremely cheesy) note, I bid you all a temporary adieu - vacation beckons and I'll be leaving the muggy streets of DC for sandy beaches, the chill of the hockey arena for the heat of the island. When I get back there will be much to discuss, though, starting with the big winner in our Blogger Playoff Pool, to be revealed upon my return. Immediately following that we have the Caps' Draft Day Party on June 22nd, for those of us poor folks unable to make the trek to Columbus. New jerseys, new players, same old crowd of crazy Caps faithful - and I'll have pictures to prove it.

Until then, enjoy your hockey hiatus...oh, and someone please brainstorm ways to kill time this summer for me. I really hate the offseason.